Metal furniture



May 15, 1934. L. A. VANDERHOOF METAL FURNITURE Filed Feb.

Patented May 15, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METAL FURNITURE Application February 8,

Claims.

v facturer but in most instances required the person making the alteration to have a more or less intimate knowledge of the structure of the article. Since this did not fully meet the customers requirement, it has become necessary for equipment of this kind to be so arranged that the user, with or without knowledge of the structure, may make certain desired alterations as are necessary. For example, filing cabinets are usually provided with drawers of uniform size.

. 5 The user of a cabinet may find need of a certain number of small drawers and fewer large ones than those provided. In a desk there is at least one large drawer which some have no use for but which could be usefully replaced by two smaller sized drawers. The facility with which a large drawer in a cabinet or desk may be removed and replaced by two or more smaller drawers, therefore, constitutes the principal object of this invention.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of inserts for metal cabinets or desks having guide means formed thereon for receiving a suspension, rollers or other drawer supporting structure.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of inserts which may be mounted and secured in an article of metal furniture without altering or disassembling said furniture in any way.

A still further object of the invention lies in the provision of inserts for metal furniture, the structure of which permits the user of the furniture to alter the arrangement of large and small drawers or substitute one for the other without the aid of special tools or the assistance of one versed in metal manufacture.

Other and further objects of the invention will be more fully understood from a consideration of 55, the following specification which is taken in con- 1932, Serial No. 591,580

junction with the accompanying drawing, and in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of a cabinet or desk pedestal with drawers in place, parts being broken away to show the mounting for a large drawer;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing drawer guide inserts by which to replace one large drawer with two of lesser size;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view 65. taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 4, and shows an insert mounted in a cabinet;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the insert, showing it engaged with the cabinet, parts being broken away to disclose certain of the structural details; 0

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view, taken substantially on the line 55 of Figure 4;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line 66 of Figure 5; V

Fig. 7 shows the method of mounting the insert; 5.- and Fig. 8 shows the arrangement of slots by means of which the insert is engaged with the cabinet wall.

Referring to the drawing, part of a cabinet or desk pedestal is shown, being indicated by the reference numeral 10. The cabinet is arranged with a rectangular opening 11, which is defined by side walls 12 and suitable top and bottom walls, (not shown). Each side wall 12, adjacent the 5. opening 11, is formed with an inturned flange 14 which terminates in a return bent flange 15. The side wall 12 and flanges 14 and 15 form a longitudinally extending pocket or recess 16 in which is secured, by welding or other suitable means, a 90, reinforcing channel 18. The channel 18 is of such proportion as to provide exposed faces 19 and 20 with which an insert is engaged. The rear vertical edge of the side wall 12 terminates in a back wall 22. The corner formed by the side and 95., back walls receives a channel 23, of a form similar to the channel 18. This channel also has exposed faces 24 and 25 for engagement with an insert. The faces 20 and 25 of the channels 18 and 23 are provided with a plurality of slots 27, 1.00 the same number of slots occurring in each.

An insert 28 is adapted to be mounted in the cabinet by engaging certain portions thereof with the slots 27 in the front and rear channels 18 and 23. In the present showing, the inserts are designed to receive a suspension which is attached to a drawer. It is apparent, however, that the insert may take any form of guideway or other member by which to support a drawer. For instance, less costly cabinets are provided with fric- 1119 tion drawer guides whereas the more expensive types are equipped with intermediate suspensions.

The insert 28, as shown in Figure 6, takes the form of a channel having a vertical base wall 29 and top and bottom side walls 30. The side walls 30 terminate in inwardly directed flanges 31 by which to retain a drawer suspension. The wall 29, adjacent the forward end of the insert, is formed with a depressed portion 33 in which are out two horizontal slots 34. To the rear face of the wall 29, a plate 36 is attached by means, of

screws 37, which project through slots 34 and The forward end of the plate engage said plate. 36 terminates in a tongue 39 which, being of reduced size, provides shoulders 46. These shoulders constitute a stop to limit engagementof the plate with the slot 27. The plate 36, being supported on the insert 28 by the screw 37 through slots 34, is adjustable longitudinally of the insert. At the rear of the insert is a plate 42 which is secured in any suitable way, as by welding, and from which projects an' offset portion terminating adjacent the end of the insert in a tongue 43 which is spaced from and parallel with the insert. This tongue is likewise formed with shoulders 44 which limit its engagement with one of the slots 27.

As stated above, channels 18 and 23 are provided with a plurality of slots 27. When the cabinet or desk pedestal is assembled, the usual number of drawer guides in the form of inserts 28, are installed. This is accomplished by engaging the tongue 43 of the fixed plate 42 with one of the slots 27 in the rear channel 23. The tongue 43, being of a size to fit snugly into the slot 27, is projected thereinto until the shoulders 44 strike the walls of the slot. The forward end of the insert is moved to a position against the face 19 of channel 18. It will be noted that the shoulder 44 of the plate 42 must abut the face 25 of the channel 23 in order thatthe forward end of the insert may be moved to a position directly to the rear of flange 15 of the cabinet wall. The plate 26, at this time, is in retracted position, substantially as shown in Figure 7 of the drawing. It is now moved forwardly to engage the tongue 39 thereof with one of the slots 27 in the wall 20 of the front channel 18. This is accomplished by moving the screws 37 forwardly in the slots 34. When the shoulders 40 abut the wall 20, screws'37 are tightened and the insert is firmly secured. To remove the insert, the reverse, steps are followed.

From the above it will be understood that when a cabinet or desk is assembled and provision has been made for a certain number of large and small drawers, these may be removed by the user of the article who may then reposition theinserts to alter the arrangement of the drawers or to substi tute large or small drawers for those already in the cabinet.

Although applicant has shown and described but one modification of his invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other modifications or adaptations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the hereunto annexed claims.

Having thus set forth my invention what I claim as new and for which I desire protection by Letters Patent is:

1. In an article of furniture having an opening, a drawer supporting insert, a plate mounted for reciprocation on said insert, screws for retaining said plate in any desired position relative to said insert, said plate being longitudinally adjustable of said insert for engagement with a slot formed in one of the walls of said opening whereby to support said insert on said article.

3. In an article of furniture having an opening, a drawer supporting insert mounted in said opening, said insert having a stationary and a movable plate located on opposite ends thereof, said plates being each provided with a projecting tongue, said movable plate being secured to said insert by means of screws which project through slotted openings, slots formed in the walls of said openingand adapted to receive said tongues whereby to rigidly retain said inserts against movement in all directions.

4. In an article of furniture having a removable drawer supporting insert, a fixed and movable plate mounted on opposite ends of said insert, tongues on said plates, said movable plate being slidably secured to said insert, walls defining slots in said article for receiving said tongues whereby to support said insert and prevent relative movement thereof in all directions within said article.

5. In an article of furniture having a removable drawer supporting insert, a fixed plate mounted on oneend of said insert, a movable plate mounted LAWRENCE A. VANDERiI-IOOF. 

